When the Russellville First Assembly of God Church presents its 18th annual Passion Play this week, it will do so without one of its senior cast members, who passed away unexpectedly last fall.

Kelly Loop, a member of First Assembly who played in the performance for 15 years, passed away in October due to health complications at the age of 51, an unexpected passing that shocked and saddened many cast members and churchgoers.

“It was very rough on those that were closest to him, and those that worked side-by-side with him for all these years,” said Ben Andrews, director of The Passion Play. “He was very close to the other Roman soldiers, as far as the play goes.”

Loop played a Roman soldier in the play and brought energy, passion and laughs to the cast.

“He was very passionate about the play, very passionate,” Andrews said. “He was also the one I had to keep my eye on for practical jokes, but he brought life to the entire play, before, during and after. He was a lot of fun to be around.

“Except when the lights came on, he was not the Roman soldier you wanted to get in front of.”

To commemorate his passing, a collage was presented to the cast at Monday night’s rehearsal, and the cast will leave his hel,met on stage throughout all the performances.

“It’s sitting in the spot where he would have stood,” Andrews said.

The Passion Play will be performed at First Assembly of God at 7 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday, as well as a Sunday showing at 6 p.m. The play, which tells the stories of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection, is part of First Assembly’s Passion Week.